Labeling-machine.



No. 897,933. PATENTBD SEPT. 8, 1908.

E. P. SAYRE. LABELING MACHINE.'

APPLIOATIONIILED AUG. 2 3, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 897,988. EATENTED SEPT. 8,1998.

E. E. SAYEE. EAEELTNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 897,933. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908. E. P. SAYRE.

LABBLING MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED 15116.23, 1907.

4 SHEBTS-SHBBT 3.

PATENTED SEPT. 8*, 1908.

E. P. SAYRE. LABELING MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED AUG. za, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' machine.

EDWARD P. SAYRE, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

LABELr'NG-MACHINE.

No. senese.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

-Application led August 23, 1907. Serial No. 389,779.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. SAYRE, a

vcitizen ofthe United States of America, and

a resident of Montclair, Essex county, State of New Jersey, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Labelin -Machines; of which the following is a full and clear description.

It is well known that difficulty is encountered in labeling the full width of the surface of cylindrical tin cans having protruding rims on theirsurface caused by the overlapping bottom and cover of the can. The means heretofore used in machines of this kind are insufficient to'press the label tight enough on to the kind of cans above mentioned throughout the whole width of the cylindrical surface, to cause the label to stick properly to the can.

My invention refers to an improvement for this particular purpose, which may, however, also be employed in any labeling machine, and I shall therefore claim in particular only the device which applies the labels to the can.

. The ydevices for supplying the cans to the labeling device and for applying the paste to the labels are merely. shown as representing on'e of the many devices which may be employed for this purpose and do not represent part ofiny invention.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a front view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine,one side of the frame being removed. lFig. 3 is a full side view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the cam disks which 4operates the device, feeding the cans singly to the labeling mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the device causing the gripper disksto open and close, shown-in larger scale. is a detail view of the Fig. r

' same device showing a modification and preferred form. Fig. S is a modified form ol the arrangement of the roller` holding the can during the labeling process.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 1 is the main frame of the machine consisting of two parallel sides mutually braced to each otheix Between these sides are mounted two rollers 2 and 3 over which a belt 5 of elastic material of an suitable kind, such as for instance rubber, 1s led and held under tension bv means of expansion springs 6 (only one s own in Figs. 2 and 3) abutting against bearings 7 of roller 3, lwhich are for this purpose slidingly disposed in slots 8 of frame 1. In the upper end of V26 as described above.

the vertical arm of frame 1 is journaled shaft 9 on which are fastened driving pulley 10 and cam disks 11 and 12, in each of which disks a cam groove 13 is provided, both grooves being of the same shape." In the vertical arm of frame 1 is further provided a vertical slot 14 of suitablelength to allow reciprocating frame 15 as much vertical motion as required. This reciprocating motion is imparted toframe 15 by pin 21 gliding in cam grooves 13 of disks 11 and 12 and fastened to the upper end of an arm 22 which in turn is fixed at its lower end on frame 15. Arm 22 is besides guided vertically by having shaft 9 pass through guide yoke 23 fixed at its upper end (Figs. 1', 2, 5). It will now be-seen that owing to the eccentrical position of grooves 13 relatively to shaft 9, a vertical reciprof eating motion will be imparted to frame 15.

Transversely to frame 15 is disposed can chute 24 and fastened t0 the main framel at a suitable incline to cause cans supplierbto this chute to roll towards frame 15. Normally the cans are prevented from rolling out of the chute by means of two locks 25 and 26 (Fig. 4), one pivoted on eac-h side wall of the chute at its lower end and held by springs 27 and 28 respectively in a position in which the hook shaped outer ends of these locks will protrude into the path of the can which is at the end of the chute, thus preventing it from rolling out. At these outer ends of locks 25 and 26 are fastened the eyes 29 and 30 respectively which are disposed to beA engaged by fingers 31 and 32 respectively fastened to frame 15, when the locks are in the position described above. If now frame 15 is in its reciprocating motion on its upward stroke, it will be seen that locks 25 and 26 after their eyes havebeen engaged by their fingers, will perform 'an outward motion owing to the slanting direction in which fingers 31 and 32 run (Fig. 1) relatively to the vertical axis of theinachiue. This will remove the hookshaped outer ends of locks 25 and 26 from the path'of the can at the end and render saine -l'rce to drop out. In this latter position -the locks are shown in Figs. 1 und 4.

'On the upper cross bar of frame 15 are pivoted three carriers 33 which hang in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 when frame 15 is in its highest position also `indicated by,dotted lines (in Figa l in full lines) 1n which position the fingers'31 and 32 have Withdrawn their respective locks 25 and If now a can thus y freed'rolls out of chute 24 it will drop into the in dotted hook-shaped lower ends of carriers 33 (Fig. 2 lines), by which it is held until it is received between the gripper disks'to be described later on.

.When the hook-shaped outer ends of locks 25 vand 26 release a can by 'their outward motion, hooleshaped, ends of locks 25 and 26 will perform an inward motion by which the next awill be locked and preventedifroni following the first can when same is rolling out of the chute. Only ed-fon its down stroke and the outer hooks of locks 25 and 26 have closed the end of the chute this second can will be freed and will rogll to the end of the chute where it is held by the locks as described above.

In the vertical arms of frame are suitabl journaled shafts 46 and 47,-both in line wit each other, which shafts carry fastened at their inner ends, protruding into frame fport for shafts'46 yoke fastened on each side of frame 15 which serveat the same time as further supand 47. Within vthe recess p 17 of each roller uide 52 is pivoted a leverv 38, which is held 1n position shown in Fig. 1

, and 'n detail in Fig. 6 by means oftension` stance, rubber or the like,

disks 34 and 35 have been drawn 39. The recessed inner surface of each ripper disk 34 vand 35 is provided with'a ining ofyielding material such as, for inas shown at 36 in Fig. 1.i

Assuming now that a can is in the osition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and eld by carriers 33, at whichv time frame 15 is drawn toits highest position so that disks 34 and 35 are each opposite one end of this can and that a art. and released again, so that this can is 1field between these disks b ineans of springs 37'. If now in operating s aftQ, cam disks 11 and 12 cause frame 15 to descend, the can will be carried alongbetween gripper disks 34 and 35, whereby rollers 39 follow the straight portion of the recess of guides 52 (Fig. 1)'. The dimensions of the structure are chosen so that the rollers 51 are not in contact with above mentioned straight surface so that disks 35 and 36 will bear with the full power of spring 37 against the can. Carriers 33 are disposed so that they rest in the position. indicated by dotted lines' (Fig. 2) against a rod 54 fastened on frame 1 in parallel to 15. If now frame 15 descends as described at the end of the chute the inner, also i after frame 15 has start.

the end .of which are provided rollers senese above, carriers 33 will assume the position shown in Fig. 2 in full lines and thus be rel mo'ved from the downward path-of the can.

Within main frame 1 are further disposed two pairs of rollers 55 and 56 symmetrically to the middle line of shown i-n Figs. 2 and 3', and furthermore pair 55 is disposed so relatively tov belt 5 that these rollers form normally a su port for belt 5 (ll ig. 3). The .bearings of rol er air 55 are disposed similarly to bearing 7 of ro ler 3, thatl is to say, horizontally slidingly in slots 57 provided in frame 1 and held yieldingly against the ends of these slots. pointing toward each other by springs 58'. TheA two airs of rollers. `are dis osed relatively toeach. other so that they wi encircle the lower half of a can when brought into the position shown in Fig. 2, preferably so that the center of the can is slightly beneath the line connecting the center of roller pair 55. Both pairs of rollers are heavily lined with yielding material preferably rubber, so that if a can held between gripper disks 34 and 35 -is the four rollers with belt V5 between the can and the rollers. When `the can is in this position, gear wheels 48 and 49 fastened to shafts 46 and 47 respectively have come in meshjwith gear wheels y61 and 62 respectively, which are both fastened to shaft 63, which in turn is driven by chains from shaft 64 on wheels 48 and 49 being such that the can will be driven by its gripper disksat the 'same speed as it is driven by belt 5. `The labels are pasted by roller 65 suitably mounted in the paste-applying device, description vof which and of the label holding and feeding devices is omitted since these kinds of dee vices are ywell known and any of -these vdevices may serve the pur ose. From the paste applyingdevice the la els are fed to the can between the roller Epairs 55 and 56,

be led or forced in any well known manner.'

The manner in which the labeling devices operate is as follows: After a can hasbeen released from the chute by the upward stroke of frame' 15 in the manner described above, and been received by the carriers 33,

ward stroke of frame 15 on the outside of their respective inclined levers 38 will roll from their levers towards the straight surface of the recess 17 of guide 52, causing the gripper disks 34 and 35 to close upon the two en s of the can held by the carriers. During this eriod roll 21 disposed in groove 13 the path of 'frame 15, as-

carried downward on the downward .stroke of frame 15 the can may be forced between through guidev 6.8, through which they may which roller 2 is mounted the gearing to rolls 51, which' have traveled during the up-v trave s through the portion of these grooves .j

in which. it is shown in Fig. 5, which runs for a suitable distance circular relatively to rame shaft 9,so that it will cause frame 15 to remain a sufcient time in this uppermost por- "tion to allow gripper disks 34 and 35 to close upon the can as described above. Frame 15 commences then its downward stroke, thereby removing carrier 33 from underneath the can, as also described above. Upon the arrival of the can on belt 5 the can will be forced with the belt between the roller pairs 55 and 56, spring 6 yielding sufficient so that no undue strain is thereby put u on belt 5.`

Gear wheels 48 and 49 now in mes with gear wheels 61 and 62 respectively will revolve the can, during which eriod the label runs between the can and be t 5, the yielding maw.

. terial'of the belt and the rollers pressing the label snug onto the wholecylindrical surface of the can in spiteof the protruding rims of the overlapping cover and bottom of the can. During this period roll 21 of arm 22 travels through the portion of grooves 13 in which i-t is shown in Fig. 2, which orticn as maybe seen, is circular, relative y to the shaftfon which cam disks 11 and 12 revolve,

so that during this period frame 15 will stay somewhat longer in its lowermost position in 25 which the can is labeled. In this osition lrolls 51 on gripper disk-shafts 46 an 47 are in the position indicated by dotted circles in Fig. 1, these rolls having traveled during the downward stroke vin the direction of the straight surface of the recess A17 of guides 52. On the upward stroke of frame 15 these rolls will travel on the outside of their respective levers 38 which are held Vin the position shown in Fig. 1 by means of springs 39 (Fig. 6) as described above, which will cause gri per disks 34 and 35 to openand let' go t e can, which will be thrown out of its seat between the roller 'pairs .55 and 5.6 by the elastic-ity ofbelt 5 and spring 6, and may be re- 40. ceived by anyl suitable device not shown in the drawings.-\1"During the` whole4upward stroke, whilerolls 51 roll on the outside of levers 38, the grip er disks will stay a art sufficient to allow tiie next can released om 4 5 the chute and caught in the meantime by carriers 33 to pass between, whereafter von rolling ofi rolls 51 from the upperv ends of levers 38 towards the straight surface ofrecess 17 the gripper disks will close upon this can by means' of the action of their expansion springs 37 as described above, so that the device is ready to carry this down to the labeling device, and so on.

While I have shown and described a particular device for supplying the cans to the labeling device, l do not wish to limit myself to this particular device, since various structures may serve the saine purpose, the spirit of my invention being the affixing of the la- C9 bels to cans having an uneven cylindrical surface by yielding means, causing the label thus pasted to stick to the can throughout the whole surface. Other modifications of -my invention within its scope will be appar- Cf'? ent. For example, the receiving pocket for taking and applying the label to the can, comprising the four rolls 55, 56, may in some cases operate directly on the can, the belt 5 being omitted from the structure. But the belt is desirable by reason of its close and distributed pressure upon the surface. of the can and label.

The form and arrangement of lever 38di s posed in recess 17 of guide 52 as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 is a rather simple and crude manner in which the gripper disks are operated. The preferred form of the device op# erating the. clamping or gripper disks as actually used is shown in Fig. 7. As may be seen from this figure roll 51 starting on its down stroke will be gradually forced toward surface 44 of recess 17 owing to the surface 42 of lever 38, when in the position shown in dotted lines, gradually tapering toward surface 44 in the downward direction. The groove formed by these two surfaces may also extend further down into guide 52 forming agroove 43 with parallel sides, roll 51 moving on its down stroke to the bottom of the groove.` This groove 43 which runs in parallel to the movement of frame 15 serves for causing the gripper disks to hold the can positively without aid of springs 37 the tightest while it is forced between the labeling roll and to also hold the can tight while it is drawn out of the labeling roll, thus aiding the .ej ecting tendency of belt 5. Roll 51 is shown in Fig. 7 inits lowermost position in dotted lines. 7When roll 51 has passed the tongue of lever 38 spring 39 will drawlevr 38 into the position shown in full lines-so that 'on the upstroke roll 51 will roll on the outside'of lever 38 which will cause the gripper disks to open in the manner already described. Furthermore alsothe manner in which the roller pair 55 is disposed in frame' 1 as shown in Fig. 2 is mere diagrammatical. Whilein this structure described above and shown in .2 this roller pair is forced towards the can by means of springs 58, the preferred form in actual use is shown in Fig. 8. As may be seenfrom this figure, the roller pair 55 is journaled in the curved levers 19, suitably pivoted in frame 1 by pivots 20. The lower ends of levers 19 are curved towards the vertical line in which frame 15 reciprocates and provided at their ends with rolls 41. Both vertical bars of frame 15 are pointed at their lower ends so that they will be forced between rolls 41 ondesccnding of frame 15 causing the lower arms of lever 19 to spread and thus rollers 55 to close positively upon the can which has been conveyed at that time into the pocket formed by roller pairs 55 and 56. This will cause rollers 55 to close upon the can only when same is in pocket while on the 11p-stroke of frame 15 these rollers will loosen their grip inunedh ately.

This labeling device may of course he cans towards said yiel 'l quired means `for supplyin easily adapted to various sizes .of 'cans by either changingv the size of roller pairs and 56 or shifting their centers so that they may form a pocket of larger or smaller size as rey the .diameter of the can, but this modification is not shown in-the drawings since lit is obvious that this may be obtained by any ot'the constructions well known in l mechanics.

,cans and 'means 'For supplying paste and labels; of a flexible end ss belt normally held straight in stretched condition, rollers disposed underneath said belt and adapted to receive the can with the belt between and ressthe label supplied to the surface to be abeled,land means adapted to force said cans between said rollers with said belt between:

3f In a machine f the character described,

' vthe combination with means. 'l'or supplying the combina ion with `rollers disposed underneath said.

' adapted to the can with the belt bevcoriditiom yielding cans and means Jfor su plyiiig paste and labels; of a lexible en .ess belt normally held straight in stretched condition, yielding elt and receive tween and press the label supplied to the surface to be labeled, and means adapted to Jforce said cans between said rollers with said belt between.

" 4. In a machine of the character described,

lthe combination with means for supplying cans and means for supplying paste and labels; of a iiexible endless belt normally held straight in stretched condition, yielding rolle:

disposed underneath said receive the can and press the to the surface to be labeled and means adaptedI to Jforce said' cans between said rollers with said belt between? 5. `In a maegiine of the character described; means for-supplying cans, and means for supplying aste an a bels of a flexible endless belt yieldingly disposed normallypheld straight in stretched ers sem-circularly belt adapted to said belt adaptedfto reposed underneath the label ceive the can and press to force said can between said rollerswithA said belt between.

6. ln a machine of the character described rollers semicircularlyldisf supplied toll the surface -toI be labeled and means adapted bels, oit' posed and normally held straight in stretched condition, yielding rollers semicircularly disposed underneath said belt adapted to receive the can and press the label supplied to the surface to be labeled and means adapted to iorce said can between 'said rollers with said belt between and hold the can during the labeling process;

7. ln amachine of the character described, the combination with means for supplying cans, and means for sup lying aste-coated labels; of a flexible cnd ess belt yieldingly disposed, yielding rollers semicircularly *disposed underneath said belt adapted to rc ceive the can and press the label applied to the surface to be labeled, and a Jframe reciprocatingly dis. osed adapted to receive and hold a can 'rom said supplying means, adapted to force a can thus receivedbetween said rollers with said belt between and hold it during the labeling process and means on said frame causing the release of the can aiter the labeling process.

8. In a machine oi the character described,

the combination with means for supplying cans, and means for sup lying paste-coated labels; oi a flexible end ess be t yieldingly a ilexibleendless belt yieldingly disdisposed, yielding rollers semicircularly dis-` f 4the combination with means for supplying cans, and means for supplying paste-coatto labels g'of a flexible end ess be t yieldingly disposed,1 i'elding rollers semicircularlydisosed un errieath saidbeltada ted toreceive the can and press'the .labe applied to the surface to be labeled, and a frame reciprocatingly disposed having two griplpcr disks suitably cperated to receive and old a canfrom said supplying means, means for can between saidjollers with said belt between and holding it` during ....lli'lfnlabeling process, s ,aid gripper: part rotating motion. `tvireen said ,rollers and meanscausing sai rlp er abelingprocess..

scribed, the combination' of label aiiixiii'g means, means for clai'nping acan, means for carrying ,said clamping lmeans to the label operating said w:trame causing it toiorce said disksA disposed to iinto saidcan `while` bedisks'to releasethe' vcan after thev 9. In la machine of the character described,

' '10. ln almacline of' the character. dcl sarees yailcirring means, means for causing said clamp- I preaching said ing means lto gradually tighten their grip positively While carried. to said labeling means and to positively gri the tightest While cooperating with said Illbeling means and to loosen their grip when removed 'from said labeling means and means for holding the clamping means from reciprocation While the label is being aiiixed.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of clamping means lfor holding a can., label afiixing means comprising yielding rollers arranged yto form a pocket adapted to close upon a can and 'means carrying said clamping means to said aflixing means, said carrying means adapted to cause said pocket to close upon a can when conveyed thereto and held therein'by said clamping means.y

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of Alabel aii'ixing means comprising yielding rollers arranged to form a pocket adapted to close upon a can, means for clamping a can', means for carrying said clamping means to said pockethmeans s for causing said clamping means to gradually and positively tighten their grip on approaching saidlpocket and to positively grip the tigh'test when cooperating with Vsaid pocket, said carrying means disposed to cause said pocket to close upon a can when conveyed .thereto and positively held therein by said clamping means. i y

13. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of label aixing means comprising yielding rollers arranged to form a pocket adapted to close upon a can, means for clamping a can, means for carrying said clamping mean-s to said pocket, means for causing said clam ing means to grad- `ually and positively tig ten their grip on appocket and to positively grip the tightest when cooperating with said pocket, said carrying means disposed to cause said pocket to close upon a can when conveyed thereto and positively held therein by said clamping means, and means for rotating the clamping means VWhile the label is being affixed.

i4. ln a machine of the character described, tlie combination of label aixing means, comprising yielding rollers arranged to form a pocket and reciprocating can clamping means for carrying successive cans to said label ailiing means, and for positively holding said cans Within said aiiirzing means, While said labels are ariixed,

l5. ln a machine of 'the character described, the combination of label ailixing means, comprising yielding rollers arranged to form a pocket, means for positively clamping and holding a can, reciprocating means for carrying said clamping means to the label aiixing means and causing same to i'orcesaid cans into said pocket, and means for holding the clamping means from reciprocation, while the label 1s being aiiixed.

lo. ln a machine or" the character del scribed, the combination oi label alixing means, means,zior positively clamping and holding a can, means for feeding' cans to 'the clamping means, means for reciprocating the clamping means from the feeding means tothe label aiilxing means, means for holding the clam ing means from reci )rocation while the labe is'being atlixed ami tating the clamping means while the label is being ai'lixed.

' 'EIN/YARD l). SA'l/ltl. lflfitnesses:

Hanny E. KNIGHT, P. FRANK Slow" means for i-o- 

